Washing machine



Nov. 17, 1931. c. E. HovEY WASHING MACHINE Original Filed April 2, 1929Patented Nov. 17, 1931- UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE CHARLES E. HOVEY, 0FOAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR T0 HOVEY WASHER OOM- PANY, OF OAKLAND,CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA WASHING MACHINE Application ledApril 2, 1929, Serial N0. 352,041. Renewed March 30, 1931.

The invention relates to washing machines of the dolly type andparticularly to machines adapted or household use.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed in which the dolly will not only be caused to rotate but willalso be caused to move rectilinearly through the tank so that all theclothes inthe tank may be subjected to the direct action of the dolly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed in which the dolly together with the means for supporting sameand the means for operatively connecting the dolly to the drivingmechanism are formed into a sin le unit which may be readily attached oretached whereby the tank is available for use independent o the machinewithout the necessity o dismounting or removing the machine from thetank.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a machine with theforegoing advantages which is extremel simple in construction and may bemanu actured at relatively low cost.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the oregoing, will be set forth in the ollowing descriptionof the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in thedrawings accompanying and formin part of the specification. 1t 1s to beun erstood, however, that variations in the showing made by the saiddrawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine of my invention with aportion of the sup orting tank in section.

igure 2 is a cross sectional view of the washer mechanism taken on theline 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the washer mechanism taken on theline 3--3 of Figure 1.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the machine is in the formof a unit 4 arranged to be removably positioned over a tank such as theusual wash tray 5. The machine unit includes a frame 7 on which and fromwhich the various elements of the machine are supported. Extendinghorizontally along the frame and secured at its opposite ends, in theframe plates 8 and 9, is a spindle 12 having mounted for reciprocationthereon a cross head or carriage 13 from which is arranged to besuspended a dolly unit 14 as will be more specifically describedhereinafter. Reciprocative movement of the carriage is arranged to beeiected through means of a pitman 16 pivotally connected at its oppositeends 17 and 18 to the cross head, and a crank 19 which is driven throughsuitable ears 21 and 22 by the motor 23, the gears eing mounted on theend plate 8 while the motor is supported on the plate 9.

l/Vashing of the clothes in the tank is arranged to be effected throughthe medium of a dolly 24 having suitable blades l26 and forming part ofwhat is herein termed the dolly unit 14, hereinbcfore referred to. Thedolly unit, as will be clear by referring to Figure 1 of the drawings,is practically the only portion of the machine of my invention whoseparts extend into or to any appreciable degree over, the tank betweenthe front thereof and the frame. lt will thus be understood that withthe dolly unit removed, complete access to the tank will be offered whenthe machine is not in operation without the necessity of dismounting thesame. Included in said dolly unit is a mounting member or support 28which rotatably carries a vertically disposcd shaft 29, to the lower endof which the dolly is adj ustably vertically held. Fixedly mounted onthe shaft 29, and also forming a part of the dolly unit, is a gear 31which is arranged to mesh with a rack 32 :fixed to the frame. With thedolly secured to the carriage, and the gear 31 operatively engaging therack 32, reciprocation of the carriage will cause the dolly to not onlyrotate about its axis but will cause the dolly to move rectilincarlyacross the tank during' such rotation so that practically all theclothes in the tank, regardless of their position therein, will besubjected to the dlrect action of the dolly blades.

It will be noted by referring to the drawings that the gear 31 isrelatively large and by reason thereof the dolly will rotate at arelativel low speed during its movement across t e tank. Preferably, andas here shown, the gear is of such size that the dolly, during onecomplete movement across the tank 1n one direction, will make about onerevolution. In this manner the clothes, on which the dolly is actingwill be forced through the water rather than with it as 1s the tendencywhen the dolly rotates about a fixed axis.

Releasable operative connection of the dolly unit with the carriage maybe effected in a number of ways. As here shown means are provided formaking the connection in a very simple but effective manner. Formed onthe carriage and positioned over the portion of the frame carrying therack is a plate 34 with which the support 28 of the dolly unit isarranged to be detachably hingedly connected. The latter is arranged tobe positioned on the plate 34 and is rovided with an aperture 36 inwhich is adapted to lit a pivot pin 37 extending upward from the late34. The support 28 is provided with a andle 38,'and when the doll unit14 is to be attached to the carriage the ormer is held by means of thehandle and the support placed on the plate 34 so that the pin 37 willengage in the opening 36, after which the dolly unit is swung inwardlyso that the gear 31 is placed in proper engagement with the rack. Duringsuch inward movement a projection 40 is caught in a .recess 41 formed ina springheld latch arm 42 whereby the dolly unit will be locked to thecarriage in operative position. If desired a plate 43 may be provided onthe carriage in superimposed relation to the plate 34 whereby thesupport 28 may be snugly fitted in the space defined between the plates.To detach the dolly unit from the carriage the arm 42 is retracted andthe support swung about the pivot pin 37 until the former is withdrawnfrom'under the top plate 43 and at the same time freeing the gear fromthe rack. The dolly unit may then be lifted by means of the handle torelease the support from engagement with the pivot pin.

A roller 44, as clearly shown in Figure 2, ismounted on the carriageland is arranged to bear a ainst a guide 46, on the frame, so that the trust to which the dolly is subjected during the operation thereof istransmitted to the frame.

It will now be clear that the machine of my invention is fully capableof attaining the objects hereinbefore referred to.

I claim:

1. In a machine for washing clothes and the like comprising a framearranged for positioning over a tank, a carriage mounted forreciprocation across said tank, a dolly unit arranged for detachableconnection to said carriage and comprising a support, a shaft for thedolly mounted for rotation on said support, means on said support forreleasably securing same to said carriage, and cooperating drivingmechanism carried by said support and frame whereby upon thereciprocation of said carriage the dolly will be simultaneously rotatedand moved rectilinearly across said tank.

2. In a machine for washing clothes and the like comprising a framearranged for positioning over a tank, a carriage mounted \forreciprocation across said tank, a gear rack fixed to said frame, avertically disposed dollyunit arranged for detachable connection to saidcarriage and comprising a support, a shaft for the dolly mounted forrotation in said support, a gear on said shaft arranged to engage saidrack, releasable means to pivotally connect said unit to said carriagewhereby said unit may be swung to place said gear and rack into and outof engagement, a spring latch arranged to releasably hold said unit andcarriage together when the gear and rack are operatively connected.

3. In a machine for washing clothes and the like comprising a framearranged for removable positioning over a tank, a carriage mounted onsaid frame for reciprocation across the top of said tank, a gear rackfixed to said frame, a dolly unit arranged to be secured to saidcarriage and comprising a support arranged for pivotal connection withsaid carriage, a vertically disposed shaft mounted for rotation in saidsupport, dollyblades adj ustably carried adjacent the lower extremity ofsaid shaft, a handle on said support, a gear on said shaft adapted to beplaced in or removed from engagement with said rack upon swinging saidsupport about its pivot and arranged when engaged with said rack tocause the dolly shaft to simultaneously rotate and move rectilinearlyacross the tank, a latch for locking said support to the carriage whenthe gear is operatively engaged with the rack, and a roller mounted onsaid carriage arranged to cooperate with said gear to prevent thetransverse displacement of said shaft during the reciprocation of thedolly unit.

4. In a washing machine, a frame adapted to be mounted on a tank andincluding a plurality of spaced substantially horizontal and parallelframe members, arranged one above the other, a carriage reciprocallymounted on the upper of said members and including a lateral extensionslidable above the upper side of and projecting outwardly beyond thelower of said members, means on the frame for reciprocating thecarriage, a roller on said extension arranged to engage the inner sideof the lower frame member, a rack on the outer side of said lower framemember, a dolly, ashaft therefor, a beardolly will be simultaneouslyrotate ing for the shaft, means for detachably connecting the bearmgwith saidl extenslon of the carriage and a 4pinion on said shaftarranged to mesh with said rack.

5. In a machine for washing clothes and the like comprising a framearranged for positioning over a tank, including a substantiallyhorizontally dis osed portion, a

carriage mounted for reciprocatlon across` the top of said tank, andconnected with the fra-me on one side ofsaid portion, a lateralextension on said carriage projecting over and outwardly beyond sa1dportion, a gear rack fixed to said frame, a vertically disposeddolly'positioned on the other' side of said portion and connected withthe4 outwardly projected end of said lateral eX- tension of saidcarriagefor movement therewith, a gear operatively associated with saiddolly-and rack whereby upon the reciprocation of said carriage saiddolly will be simultaneously rotated and moved rectilinearly across thesaid tank, and means to detachably connect said dolly and gea-r to saidcarriage. I

6. In a machine for washing clothes and the like comprising a framearranged for positioning over the contents of a tank, and

including a substantially horizontal portion, f

acarriage mounted yon said frame on one side of said portion, anextension on said carriage projecting transversely across and outwardlybeyond said portion, a gear rack lixed to said frame, a dolly having itsshaftv vertically disposed on thevother side of said portion andconnected with the outwardly projecting part of said extension, a; gearon said shaft and engaging said rack whereby upon therecipiocation ofsaid carria e thde an moved rectilinearly across the tank, and a rollercarried by saidextension and arranged to bear against the inner side ofsaid'portion of the frame, to retain the dolly in proper position duringsaid movement.

' In testimon my hand at akland, California, this 14th day of March,1929.

' CHARLES E. I-IVEY.

whereof I have hereunto set

